CLEVELAND, Ohio — The NBA draft is two weeks from Thursday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers own the first and fourth overall picks. With No. 1, they’ll tab Duke point guard Kyrie Irving.

Or will they? Will the conventional wisdom prevalent since the lottery ping pong balls dropped the Cavs’ way prove as unreliable as LeBron James at crunch time?

An NBADraft.net mock draft, on FoxSports.com, has the Cavaliers taking Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the first pick, with the comment:

The Cavs have yet to settle on either Williams or Kyrie Irving, but it’s possible they can have both. Owner Dan Gilbert has said he would love to see them grab Williams. He has a big wingspan and plays with high energy. His toughness playing through a broken pinkie and showing no ill effects was impressive. At the combine, Williams showed that he has plenty of size and strength to play in the post at the NBA level, and he retains the same great agility that made him the most unstoppable forward in college basketball this season. If Cleveland considers there to be four elite-level players available, taking Williams at No. 1 would leave their options open better than Irving.

NBADraft.net predicts that Irving will be off the board before the Cavaliers pick again at No. 4, and take:

Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky: Knight is an absolute gym rat and a tremendous kid who will work hard on his game. It has become a point guard-dominated league and Knight has the size and speed to be a standout at the position. He may have some holes and take time to round into a complete point guard, but it’s hard to argue with opting for such a strong competitor and character guy here. A clutch shooter, Knight has go to ability with his quick first step and ability to create shots. Long rated near or at the top of his class, Knight has elite-level speed and quickness for a player his size and is a prolific scorer with a killer instinct.

Mock drafts from:

HoopsWorld.com

and, DraftExpress.com

and, Yahoo! Sports

and, Insidehoops.com 

and, CBSSports.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are engaged in serious discussions with Mike Brown about the ex-Cleveland Cavaliers coach becoming the franchise’s next coach, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday night.

The Lakers are focused on talks with Brown, who was fired in 2010 after five seasons in Cleveland, where he went 272-138.

Los Angeles had considered longtime assistant Brian Shaw, but the focus is now on Brown, who is currently an NBA analyst for ESPN. There could be an agreement in place within the next 24-48 hours, sources say, but nothing has been finalized.

The two sides are working out issues that could be dealbreakers and cause the Lakers to go to another candidate, sources said, but there’s clearly momentum toward Brown becoming the next head coach.

It was unclear what was still standing between an agreement, but the Lakers have made it clear that they’ll move onto another candidate – possibly Rick Adelman, Mike Dunleavy or Shaw – should they be unable to come to an agreement on terms with Brown.

A close league friend told Yahoo! Sports, “He really wants this [the Lakers job] to happen.”

Lakers ownership doesn’t want to pay top salary for a coach anymore, and that could be a sticking point on a deal. The Warriors seem prepared to spend money for the coach they desire and Brown has been atop the franchise’s list for several weeks.

Brown led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals, and won the Coach of the Year award in 2009. His Cavaliers teams were among the best defensive units in the league, which Lakers management seems determined to find in a replacement for Phil Jackson. Nevertheless, there were often criticisms of Brown’s offensive system. Brown had an up-and-down relationship with LeBron James, who appeared to lose faith in Brown near the end of their tenure together.

Press Release
Source: Bizdom U

On Tuesday May 24, 2011, 10:12 am EDT

DETROIT, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Bizdom U, an entrepreneurship accelerator, is seeking up to 20 entrepreneurs to join its Fall 2011 Detroit training session.  Developed by Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Quicken Loans and Majority Owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bizdom U is a nonprofit organization dedicated to launching innovative, growth-oriented businesses in Detroit and Cleveland.

Located in TechTown, Wayne State University‘s research and technology park, Bizdom U provides entrepreneurs with all of the training, resources and mentorship necessary to start and operate scalable businesses.  Entrepreneurs accepted into the four-month, full-time program receive training, a living stipend, laptops, smart phones and class materials – at no cost to them. Participants who complete the program and prepare an approved plan for a viable Detroit-based business may receive start-up funding from the nonprofit Bizdom U Fund of up to $100,000.  

The comprehensive application and selection process is designed to discover those who have a passion for building something of value while enhancing the community.  

“Being an entrepreneur in Detroit means so much more than simply being a business owner,” said Ross Sanders, CEO of Bizdom U.  ”It’s a commitment to the city and the people that continue to shape the future of the region and is a responsibility that can’t be taken lightly.”

The application deadline for the Fall 2011 Detroit training session is June 3, 2011. Interested candidates can RSVP to attend an upcoming Bizdom Information Meeting at www.bizdom.com/apply.

More information on Bizdom U can be found at www.bizdom.com, by e-mailing [email protected], or by calling 313-833-7800.

About Bizdom U:
Bizdom is a comprehensive, non-profit, entrepreneurship accelerator located in Detroit, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio. The program was launched by Dan Gilbert, Chairman of Rock Gaming LLC, Majority Owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters, Operator of the Quicken Loans Arena (the “Q”) and Founder and Chairman of Quicken Loans Inc., in January 2007.  Local entrepreneurs and professionals who share their real-world experiences with entrepreneurs in the program participate in training.  During the four month, full-time, program, entrepreneurs prepare plans for a business, which must be located within city limits.  Entrepreneurs whose plans are approved can receive start-up funding for their plan of up to $100,000. Bizdom U maintains a share of ownership in each business, using its share of the proceeds to fund future entrepreneurs that will launch even more innovative businesses in these cities.  For more information, visit www.Bizdom.com.